Football Debate: Who Is The Greatest Ever Captain To Grace The EPL (1992-2011)

This article will try to determine who the greatest captain in the English Premier League. We will look at only the teams who have played for the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

Before I go any further I would like to point out that I am not looking for which captain has won the most Silverware or which captain has served his club for the longest. While those two factors are key, my main criteria will basically involve matters such as leadership, organization, drive and of course ability to perform under extreme pressure. This is a debate so feel free to comment your opinions in the comment section.

I won’t include anybody else on this article because there are hundreds to choose from; therefore it is best to leave it as a debate in the comment section. I will give you my thoughts on who I feel is the best and I will allow the rest to follow.

My Choice

Steven Gerrard

Is Kop idol Steven Gerrard the greatest captain to ever grace the EPL? Well for me and many others football supporters the answer to this question is yes. Steven Gerrard is a key example of what it means to captain you club.

Gerrard has been playing for Liverpool since 1995, in this time he has won many accolades and silverware however the one that has always eluded him was the Premier League title. However it’s the determination and drive that Gerrard has for his club that has allowed him to lift several major honours such as the FA Cup, League Cup and of course The Champions League trophy.

Gerrard style of captaincy has always been hailed from footballing icons from around the world, many of whom credit him as the comeback kid of Liverpool, as seen in these 3 Videos.

While these videos are only a glimpse of what Gerrard has accomplished as a captain it goes to prove just how important he is to not only his club but his country to.

Quotes from Football Legends and Managers

Jamie Carragher: "It's a great achievement to captain your country at the World Cup and I thought Stevie was outstanding. That was not just because of the goal but because he was snapping into tackles as well. Sometimes people say Stevie and Frank Lampard can't play in that role – but Stevie can play the holding role as well as anyone in the world.

"He can play right-back, off the front man, central midfield, attack. At times that's a problem for us because he can play so well in so many different positions. He leads by example and that's what he did against the USA.

Pepe Reina: "So far Stevie is one of the best teammates I have ever played with. "He is up there with the best and I have played for not bad teams, like Barcelona and the national team, so it's a great compliment and a big truth as well

Zidane: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but, yes, I think he just might be,

"He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that - players like him are just born with that presence."

Roy Hodgson: "Steven helps all players, and it is harder to find leaders in the world of football today," Hodgson told Liverpool's official website. "You think of the great teams of the past and their leaders jump out at you"